MoorheadTheater.com

Moorhead High School Theater Blog

Newsies: Historical accuracy, feminism and Nerf terror?

Posted on by Posted in 2018 - Newsies .

By Laura Jensen, junior, cast member

Day 3 of EM break started kind of slow for many, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fun to watch. “What What Happens,” was blocked in the morning. Though I’m not in it, it might be one of my favorite scenes in the show.

Choreography in the show is tries to be historically accurate.

I don’t even love the song that much but the blocking is amazing. I’m not going to spoil anything, but let me just say #feminism. Speaking of feminism, Meleah choreographed “Don’t come knocking/Never planned on you.” I love Meleah’s choreography. It’s historically accurate. “That’s Rich” is the same way. I love it as weird as it may be for my parents. (Hi, Mom).

We even got to do it in our Bowery Beauty heels. They are so cute. That night was the infamous Nerf War. I thing I get a little intense about the Nerf War, which is surprising because I”m a wimp. I’m honestly too wimpy to actually play on the battlefield.The past two years, I’ve guarded the pin and my freshman year I hid int he girls bathroom because I 1) had a really bad headache and 2) I was scared.

The juniors and sophomores lost both games – only because the seniors cheated. but it’s fine I’m over it. The last thing of the night was “Acres of Terror,” but as previously mentioned I’m a wimp. Maybe next year.

Why was the Newsies cast sprinting to the commons?

Posted on by Posted in 2018 - Newsies .

By Laura Jensen – Junior, Cast Member

While Day 2 of EM Break for many kids consists of sleeping in until noon, eating junk food, watching Netflix and sleeping some more, we have been hard at work. We’re already to the second act in blocking although it’s pretty rough. To get us all warmed up, Meylar had us play some intense games of Red Ball and Big Booty. That was a trip.

There has been a lot of sitting and waiting for really everyone who isn’t a named Newsie. But we’ve kept busy. I’ve written alumni letters, attempted some AP Calc homework and went through my script. I did get to be on stage a little for “Seize the Day.” I stand on a platform and try not to fall off, but it’s still cool to be a part of the show’s most popular number.

It’s amazing to see everyone scattered around the set, pounding their fists to the infectious resistance Speaking of the set, it’s really coming together. It may be unpainted, but it looks incredible. I can’t wait for the final product.

It was also soup night. While I’m not a big soup person, I love soup night. I get a little scared. All it took was for Meylar to say the word “soup” for all 50 of us to start sprinting down the halls of Moorhead High, racing to the be the first in line for the chicken noodle soup. (Side note: I would suggest having about three more pots of chicken noodle. We ran out within the first ten people.

Also, we should add beer cheese soup. It’s my favorite). I’m pretty sure I haven’t worked that hard for soup all year. So if you want to get me in track, tell it’s soup night. It was a harsh realization that I need to do the “Cupid Shuffle” more.

Finally we had the pool party. It was fun, but a little cold since someone left the door to outside open. It’s fine, not like, it was about 30 degrees outside, just kidding, it was.) The pool party is mostly just us trying to to admit to ourselves that we will probably have to walk in the snow between scenes. Hopefully with shoes this year.

One last note: Tickets are now on sale: go to the Moorhead High Box Office to order.

EM break – fun, busy and productive

Posted on by Posted in 2018 - Newsies .

by Laura Jensen, junior, cast member

And so it begins. EM Break, the busiest week of the process started Wednesday, with a bang, I might add. Most of us came in a little before 2 p.m. for the kickoff kickball game  –  the girls still recovering from a late “Girl’s Night.” The game concluded with a win from the juniors and freshmen, with a little help from the very supportive cheerleaders, the Lazy Losers (I can say that – I was one of them).
Wednesday was also Alumni Day. We wrote letters to alumni –  some from last year, some from ten years ago and everything in between and beyond. I love writing to alumni. It’s a great way to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. EM Break is also the time when alumni send in their own letters. The first one was from Mark Hannah, Peter Pan from “Peter Pan” (2009).  I remember seeing that show when I was younger and thinking it was enchanting. Now, after being in a few of these shows, I realize there is no limit to the amount of work that goes into putting those enchantments on Moorhead High School’s  old stage. Well, besides a little scene clean-up and movie night, that’s pretty much it for EM Break Day 1, but there is so much more to come. Stay tuned for more blanket forts, Nerf wars, and sleepy memories.

Senior Kaden Moszer (Jack Kelly) works on his script during EM break rehearsal.

 

Newsies release news release (see what we did there?)

Posted on by Posted in 2018 - Newsies .

The Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon, NEWSIES is coming to Moorhead Theater this November 9-11, 16-18, 23 and 24. The show is based on the historical newsboy strike of 1899 that shook the ivory towers of William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. It leaps onto the stage with soul stirring music, amazing heart, and stunning choreography.

Newsies, the musical, tells the story of how a band of underdogs took on the most powerful names in New York in a fight for what’s right. The poor and orphaned teenagers, selling newspapers for a penny a paper, are pushed to the limit when newspaper moguls Hearst and Pulitzer try to take away more of their meager profits. Jack Kelly becomes the leader who rallies the newsies from across the city to take a stand and strike against the most powerful publishers in the country. Their cause becomes even bigger than any of the newsies imagined when they realize they’re fighting for all the children working in unfair and unsafe conditions across the nation.

Minutes after the rights became available, Director Rebecca Meyer-Larson scooped up the opportunity to produce the show. “The original movie has a cult following, and I am definitely part of that cult. It took Broadway success and 25 years for it to finally be released to amatueur theaters – but it was definitely worth the wait! In light of a resurgence of youth activism like the March for Our Lives movement, the history inherent in this story is especially relevant,” says Meyer-Larson.

Disney’s NEWSIES the Broadway Musical will be performed at the Moorhead High School auditorium November 9, 10, 16, 17,  23, and 24. at 7:30 PM with 2 p.m. matinees on November 11 & 18. Tickets can be reserved online at http://www.MoorheadSchools.org/tix or by calling the MHS Activities Office at 218-284-2255 beginning October 26. Moorhead High Theatre strives to make its performances and facilities accessible to all patrons. On November 11, we will have a sign-language interpreted performance.For tickets for this performance or if you need additional assistance, please contact our Activities Office.Ticket prices are $11 for adults and $7 for students.

Moorhead High School’s musical theater department has been awarded the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Musical Theater Award for Production Excellence in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.  

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please email Rebecca Meyer-Larson at rmlarson@moorheadschools.org or call 218-284-2371.

 

Newsies: An “unreal experience” for senior Alex Siegel

Posted on by Posted in 2018 - Newsies .

by Alex Siegel

Being a senior in Moorhead High School’s production of “NEWSIES” is an unreal experience. Growing up through this program has changed me in so many ways and has really helped me to grow as a person. There are many lessons that each cast has taught me that have aided in my academic and social life. I have learned how to speak confidently for job interviews, how to stay organized and on top of everything in my life, and most importantly; I have learned how to make lasting friendships and families with those around me. One thing I have definitely learned from this is how fast my time in high school has gone by; I remember freshman year listening to my seniors give their senior speeches and each of them saying “cherish your time, it goes by quicker than you think”, I never really realized that until it came time for auditions for “NEWSIES” and I was just left there thinking “Wow, we’re already here… It’s already time for my last production on Moorhead High School’s stage.”

Senior year brings its own responsibilities and excitements. Now we get to run all of the initiations and all of the fun events during EM break. The fun thing to think is that everyone looks up to us throughout this program, meaning that when they see that all of us seniors who are so close to each other get along so well, that they get a taste of what they should hopefully end up like their senior year. Just knowing that this is our last show, I think I speak for all the seniors when I say that we are going to make sure that the entire production of “NEWSIES” is one of the best ones we’ve had in years, because who doesn’t want their last production at their high school to be the one they remember for years to come. I also cannot wait to see how this year’s freshman grow and mature throughout the years when I come back as an alumni to this program but, I can tell you this… this production of  “NEWSIES” and this amazing cast is one you will not want to miss!